New Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops is doing his best to build a winner on the football field in Lexington. He’s brought an excitement and buzz around the program that the Wildcats have never experienced before and will be working tirelessly to find the success on the field that Kentucky has missed out on in the SEC. That mission will get a boost in 2014 as running back Braylon Heard has announced he will transfer to Kentucky.

Heard comes to the SEC from the Nebraska Cornhuskers after spending two seasons in their backfield. Last season, he rushed for 348 yards, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. During his freshman season, he gained 114 yards and leaves Lincoln with four career touchdowns. He found himself stuck in a deep Husker backfield with more talent than he could overcome to crack the starting lineup.

That won’t be as much of a problem for Heard at Kentucky. The Wildcats will have a pair of senior running backs in 2013 with Raymond Sanders and Jonathan George who are in line to anchor the Kentucky running game next fall. Behind them, only Dyshawn Mobley returns this year with any significant playing experience after rushing for 184 yards on 41 carries.

In 2014, Sanders and George will be graduated and there isn’t a clear contender to replace them beyond the young rusher Mobley. Heard will be eligible to step into a thin backfield and contribute in a major way for his final season of eligibility. Stoops will be thankful to add Heard’s talents to the depth of his backfield in 2014, but will it be enough to turn the Cats’ fortunes around?